Corneal distribution of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and chemokine receptor-4 as homing factors / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:Stromal cel-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and chemokine receptor-4 (CXCR4) play an important role in stem cel homing during bone marrow, organ and tissue transplantation. But there are few reports on limbal stem cel transplantation and homing as wel as the distribution and content of SDF-1/CXCR4 on the cornea. OBJECTIVE:To detect the expression levels of SDF-1/CXCR4 mRNA in rat corneal tissue by fluorescence quantitative PCR. METHODS: The normal rat cornea was taken completely, and subdivided into central cornea, peripheral corneal and limbal area. Fluorescence quantitative PCR method was employed to detect SDF-1/CXCR4 mRNA levels at corresponding positions. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The expression levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 mRNA were 0.213±0.015 and 0.189±0.02 in the central cornea, 0.529±0.077 and 0.285±0.015 in the peripheral cornea, 0.666±0.069 and 0.258±0.067 in the limbal area, respectively. These data show that there are significant differences in the expression levels of SDF-1 and CXCR4 mRNA in the central cornea, peripheral corneal and limbal area, and these differences exert an important role in cel homing and migration during limbal stem cel transplantation for treatment of limbal stem cel deficiency.